Advanced fiber node

ABSTRACT

Circuitry of a hybrid fiber-coaxial network may comprise a first transceiver configured to connect the circuitry to an optical link, a second transceiver configured to connect the circuitry to an electrical link, a first processing path, a second processing path, and a switching circuit. In a first configuration, the switching circuit may couple the first transceiver to the second transceiver via the first processing path. In a second configuration, the switching circuit may couple the first transceiver to the second transceiver via the second processing path. The first transceiver may comprise a passive optical network (PON) transceiver and the second transceiver may comprise a data over coaxial service interface specification (DOCSIS) physical layer transceiver. The switching circuit may be configured based on the type of headend to which the circuitry is connected.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This patent application makes reference to, claim priority to, andclaims benefit from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/753,197,which was filed on Jan. 16, 2013.

The above identified application is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Aspects of the present application relate to communication networks.More specifically, aspects of the present application relate to a methodand system for an advanced fiber node.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional systems and methods for communications can be overly powerhungry, slow, expensive, and inflexible. Further limitations anddisadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will becomeapparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systemswith some aspects of the present invention as set forth in the remainderof the present application with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Systems and methods for an advanced fiber node, substantially as shownin and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, asset forth more completely in the claims.

Advantages, aspects and novel features of the present disclosure, aswell as details of various implementations thereof, will be more fullyunderstood from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting an example hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC)network.

FIG. 2A depicts an example implementation of an advanced fiber nodeconfigured for use with a headend equipped with a cable modemtermination system (CMTS).

FIG. 2B depicts an example implementation of a advanced fiber nodeconfigured for use with a headend that is not equipped with a CMTS.

FIG. 3 is a diagram depicting an example headend configured forcontrolling an advanced fiber node.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating an example process for configuringan advanced fiber node.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As utilized herein the terms “circuits” and “circuitry” refer tophysical electronic components (i.e. hardware) and any software and/orfirmware (“code”) which may configure the hardware, be executed by thehardware, and or otherwise be associated with the hardware. As usedherein, for example, a particular processor and memory may comprise afirst “circuit” when executing a first one or more lines of code and maycomprise a second “circuit” when executing a second one or more lines ofcode. As utilized herein, “and/or” means any one or more of the items inthe list joined by “and/or”. As an example, “x and/or y” means anyelement of the three-element set {(x), (y), (x, y)}. As another example,“x, y, and/or z” means any element of the seven-element set {(x), (y),(z), (x, y), (x, z), (y, z), (x, y, z)}. As utilized herein, the term“exemplary” means serving as a non-limiting example, instance, orillustration. As utilized herein, the terms “e.g.,” and “for example”set off lists of one or more non-limiting examples, instances, orillustrations. As utilized herein, circuitry is “operable” to perform afunction whenever the circuitry comprises the necessary hardware andcode (if any is necessary) to perform the function, regardless ofwhether performance of the function is disabled, or not enabled, by someuser-configurable setting.

FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting an example hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC)network. The example HFC network 100 comprises a headend 102, anadvanced fiber node 104, amplifiers 106 ₁-106 ₃, splitters 110 ₁-110 ₄,and gateways 112 ₁-112 ₅. One feature of the fiber node 104 that makesit “advanced” is the presence of a digital optical interface such aspassive optical network (PoN) interface, as is further discussed below.One feature of the fiber node 104 that makes it “advanced” is thereconfigurability of the fiber node 104, as is further discussed below.

The headend 102 comprises a cable modem termination system (CMTS) forhandling data over coaxial service interface specification (DOCSIS)traffic to and from the cable modems of gateways 112 ₁-112 ₅ and one ormore modulators (e.g., one or more “edge QAMs”) for handling downstreammultimedia traffic to the audio/video receivers of the gateways 112₁-112 ₅.

The advanced fiber node (AFN) 104 may provide an interface between theoptical network 120 and the electrical network 130. The AFN 104 may, forexample, be as described below with reference to FIGS. 2A-2B.

Each of the amplifiers 106 ₁-106 ₃ may comprise a bidirectionalamplifier which may amplify downstream signals and upstream signals,where downstream signals are input via upstream interface 107 a andoutput via downstream interface 107 b, and upstream signals are inputvia downstream interface 107 b and output via upstream interface 107 a.The amplifier 106 ₁, which amplifies signals along the main coaxial“trunk,” may be referred to as a “trunk amplifier.” The amplifiers 106 ₂and 106 ₃, which amplify signals along “branches” split off from thetrunk, may be referred to as “branch” or “distribution” amplifiers.

Each of the splitters 110 ₁-110 ₄ comprises circuitry operable to outputsignals incident on each of its interfaces onto each of its otherinterfaces. Each of the splitters 110 ₁-110 ₄ may be a passive or activedevice which supports bidirectional transfer of signals.

Each of the gateways 112 ₁-112 ₅ may comprise cable modem circuitryoperable to communicate with, and be managed by, the headend 102 inaccordance with one or more standards (e.g., DOCSIS). Each of thegateways 112 ₁-112 ₅ may comprise one or more audio/video receiversoperable to receive multimedia content (e.g., in the form of one or moreMPEG streams) transmitted by the headend 102 in accordance with one ormore standards used for cable television. Each of the gateways 112 ₁-112₅ may reside at the premises of a cable/DOCSIS subscriber.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, common to both figures are the AFN104, and the gateway 112. The gateway 112 representing one ofpotentially many gateways served via FN 104. The FN 104 comprises a PONinterface 208, switching circuitry 220, MAC/PHY interface 210, bridgingcircuitry 217, DOCSIS MAC circuitry 218, and DOCSIS PHY circuitry 212.

The passive optical network (PON) interface 206 comprises circuitryoperable to communicate over the fiber 103 in accordance with one ormore optical network standards such as, for example, Ethernet overpassive optical network (EPON) and/or gigabit Ethernet over passiveoptical network (GPON).

The switching circuitry 220 is operable to switch between two processingpaths of the FN 104, where the first path comprises the MAC/PHYinterface 210 and the second path comprises bridging circuitry 217 andDOCSIS MAC 218. The switching circuitry 220 may comprise, for example, aswitch 222 (e.g., a transmission gate, a relay, a MEMS switch, and/orthe like) and switch control logic 224 that controls the position of theswitch 222 via control signal 230. In an example implementation, controllogic 224 may control a configuration of switch 222 autonomously (e.g.,based on monitoring or “sniffing” of signals received by the FN 104) bythe switch control logic circuit 224. In another example implementation,control logic 224 may control configuration of switch 222 in response toa reconfiguration command sent to the FN 104 over the fiber 103 or overthe coax 105.

The MAC/PHY interface 210 is operable to interface the DOCSIS mediaaccess control (MAC) 202 to a remotely located PHY. The MAC/PHYinterface 210 may be, for example, an upstream external PHY interface(UEPI), downstream external PHY interface (DEPI), a packet access shelfinterface (PASI) and/or any other suitable interface.

The bridging circuitry 217 is operable to convert between signalssuitably formatted for the PON interface 208 and signal formatted forthe DOCSIS MAC 218. That is, the bridging circuitry 217 may bridgebetween a first protocol (e.g., Ethernet) and DOCSIS (1.0, 2.0, 3.0,and/or future revisions of the standard).

The DOCSIS MAC circuitry 218 is operable to perform media access controlfunctions set forth in one or more versions of the DOCSIS standard.These functions may include DOCSIS network management functions such asregistration (including ranging) and deregistration of gateways 112, andallocation of bandwidth on the coax 105 among gateways 112 served viathe coax 105.

The DOCSIS PHY 212 is operable to perform physical layer functions setforth in one or more versions of the DOCSIS standard.

Now referring to FIG. 2A, shown in addition to the FN 104 and gateway112 the CMTS-equipped headend 102 comprising media access control (MAC)circuitry 202, MAC/PHY interface circuitry 204, and a passive opticalnetwork (PON) interface 206. In FIG. 2A, the FN 104 is configured to usethe first processing path 241 for communicating with the headend 102.

In the downstream direction, DOCSIS MAC 202 outputs DOCSIS messages tothe MAC/PHY interface 204. The MAC/PHY interface 204 which encapsulatesand/or reformats them and then passes them to the PON interface 206. ThePON interface 206 may perform encapsulation and/or reformatting and thenconvert the electrical signals to optical signals for transmission overthe fiber 103. The PON interface 208 converts the optical signals backto electrical signals, removes any encapsulation and/or reformattingperformed by PON interface 206, and then passes (via switch 222) thereceived signals to the MAC/PHY interface 210. The MAC/PHY interface 210removes encapsulation and/or reformatting added by the MAC/PHY interface204 to recover the DOCSIS messages output by DOCSIS MAC 202. The DOCSISmessages are then passed to the DOCSIS PHY 212 for transmission to thegateway 112 via coax 105.

In the upstream direction, the DOCSIS PHY 212 receives DOCSIS signalsfrom the gateway 112 via coax 105. The DOCSIS PHY 212 recovers theDOCSIS MAC (data link layer) messages and passes them to the MAC-PHYinterface 210. The MAC/PHY interface 210 encapsulates and/or reformatsthe signals and then passes them (via switch 222) to the PON interface208. The PON interface 208 may perform encapsulation and/or reformattingand then convert the electrical signals to optical signals fortransmission over the fiber 103. The PON interface 206 converts theoptical signals back to electrical signals, removes any encapsulationand/or reformatting performed by PON interface 208, and then passes thereceived signals to the MAC/PHY interface 204. The MAC/PHY interface 204removes encapsulation and/or reformatting added by the MAC/PHY interface210 to recover the DOCSIS signals output by the DOCSIS PHY 212. TheDOCSIS signals are then passed to the DOCSIS MAC 202.

Thus, using the first processing path 241, DOCSIS packets areeffectively tunneled over the passive optical network (PON) on fiber 103such that the presence of the interfaces 204, 210 and the passiveoptical network are transparent to the headend 102 (at the MAC layer andabove) and to the gateway 112. As a result, DOCSIS network managementfunctions (media access planning, registration/deregistration ofgateways, tiered provisioning, billing, etc.) can be performed by theheadend 102.

Now referring to FIG. 2B, shown in addition to the FN 104 and gateway112, is a non-CMTS equipped headend 250 (may be referred to as anoptical line terminal) comprising a non-DOCSIS MAC 252 and a passiveoptical network (PON) interface 206. In FIG. 2B, the FN 104 isconfigured to use the second processing path 242 for communicating withthe non-CMTS-equipped headend 250. The non-DOCSIS MAC 252 may generatedata link layer signals in accordance with a standard other than DOCSIS(e.g., Ethernet).

In the downstream direction, the non-DOCSIS MAC 252 outputs non-DOCSISpackets to PON interface 206. The PON interface 206 may performencapsulation and/or reformatting of the packets and then convert theelectrical signals to optical signals for transmission over the fiber103. The PON interface 208 converts the optical signals back toelectrical signals, removes any encapsulation and/or reformattingperformed by PON interface 206, and then passes (via switch 222) thereceived packets to the bridging circuitry 217. The bridging circuitry217 removes encapsulation and/or formatting added by the non-DOCSIS MAC252 and then passes the recovered data to the DOCSIS MAC 218. The DOCSISMAC 218 then manages the transmission of the data to the gateway 112 viaDOCSIS PHY 212 and coax 105 in accordance with DOCSIS protocols.

In the upstream direction, the DOCSIS PHY 212 receives DOCSIS signalsfrom the gateway 112 via coax 105. The DOCSIS PHY 212 recovers theDOCSIS MAC (data link layer) messages and passes them to the DOCSIS MAC218. DOCSIS MAC 218 recovers the data link layer messages and passesthem to bridging circuitry 217. The bridging circuitry 217 removesencapsulation and/or formatting added by the DOCSIS MAC 218 and thenpasses the recovered data to the PON interface 208. The PON interface208 may perform encapsulation and/or reformatting of the packets andthen convert the electrical signals to optical signals for transmissionover the fiber 103. The PON interface 206 converts the optical signalsback to electrical signals, removes any encapsulation and/orreformatting performed by PON interface 208, and then passes the signalsto the non-DOCSIS MAC 252.

Thus, using the second processing path 242, DOCSIS originates andterminates in the FN 104. An advantage of this configuration is thatDOCSIS gateways 112 can be deployed in the HFC without having to equipthe headend 250 with a cable modem termination system (CMTS). Rather,the DOCSIS MAC 218 in the FN 104 acts as the CMTS. That is, CMTSfunctions such as registration and deregistration of gateways, mediaaccess planning for allocating bandwidth on the coax 105, and/or thelike may be performed in the FN 104. CMTS functions performed in the FN104 may be somewhat simplified due to limited resources in the FN 104 ascompared to in the headend 102.

Thus, via a simple reconfiguration of switch 222, the FN 104 depicted inFIGS. 2A and 2B supports both remote PHY (FIG. 2A) and DOCSIS Ethernetover Coax (EoC) installations (FIG. 2B). In an example implementation,where DOCSIS is first being rolled out in a region, the FN 104 mayinitially be configured to the EoC (FIG. 2B) configuration. Then, oncethe number of DOCSIS CPEs (e.g., the gateways 112 ₁-112 ₅) in the areareaches a critical mass, the provider may decide it is worth theinvestment to install a CMTS at the headend. Upon installation of theCMTS in the headend 250, the FN 104 may be reconfigured to theconfiguration shown in FIG. 2A. The gateways 112 may continue tofunction without having to be replaced or needing on-site interaction bya service technician.

FIG. 3 is a diagram depicting an example headend configured forcontrolling an advanced fiber node. Shown in FIG. 3 is AFN configurationcontrol circuitry 302 (other components of the headend 102 are omittedin FIG. 3 for clarity of illustration). The AFN configuration controlcircuit 302 may be operable to generate a control signal 304 to controlthe configuration of the switch 222 in the switching circuitry 220 ofthe AFN 104. In this regard, in an example embodiment of thisdisclosure, the AFN 104 may be configured to receive the signal 304in-band (e.g., by sniffing packets received from the headend 102) and/orout-of-band with the other traffic on fiber 103.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating an example process for configuringan advanced fiber node. In block 402, the AFN 104 is powered up. Inblock 404, the AFN 104 determines the type of headend to which it isconnected. The determination may be made, for example, by inspecting or“sniffing” in-band traffic received via the fiber 103, or by monitoringa channel (in-band or out-of-band) to receive a configuration commandfrom the headend 102 or an identification signal from the headend thatidentifies whether the headend is equipped with a CMTS. In block 406 itis determined whether the headend is equipped with a CMTS. If so, thenin block 408 the first processing path 241 is selected. If not, then inblock 410 the second processing path 242 is selected. After blocks 408and 410, the process returns to block 404. In this manner, the FN 104may periodically or occasionally monitor for changes in the type ofheadend.

In various embodiments of this disclosure, an advanced fiber node (e.g.,104) of a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network (e.g., 100) may comprisecircuitry that includes a first transceiver (e.g., 208) configured toconnect the advanced fiber node to an optical link (e.g., 103), a secondtransceiver (e.g., 212) configured to connect the advanced fiber node toan electrical link (e.g., 105), a first processing path (e.g., 241), asecond processing path (e.g., 242), and a switching circuit (e.g., 220).In a first configuration, the switching circuit couples the firsttransceiver to the second transceiver via the first processing path. Ina second configuration, the switching circuit couples the firsttransceiver to the second transceiver via the second processing path.The first transceiver may comprise a passive optical network (PON)transceiver, and the second transceiver may comprise a data over coaxialservice interface specification (DOCSIS) transceiver. In an exampleimplementation, the second processing path may be operable to performfunctions of a cable modem terminal system (CMTS). In this regard, thefunctions of CMTS may include media access planning for allocatingbandwidth on the electrical link.

In an example implementation, the first processing path comprises one orboth of an upstream external PHY interface (UEPI) and a downstreamexternal PHY interface (DEPI), and the second processing path comprisesan optical network unit (ONU) and a DOCSIS media access control (MAC)circuit. The switching circuit 220 may be configured into the firstconfiguration while the first transceiver is coupled to a headend 102which uses one or both of a UEPI and a DEPI for communicating with theAFN 104. The switching circuit 220 may be configured into the secondconfiguration while the first transceiver is coupled to a headend 102which does not use either a UEPI or a DEPI for communicating with theAFN 104.

In an example implementation, the first processing path 241 comprises apacket shelf to access shelf interface (PASI) (e.g., 210), and thesecond processing path 242 comprises a protocol bridging circuit (e.g.,217) and a DOCSIS media access control (MAC) circuit (e.g., 218). Inthis regard, the switching circuit may be configured into the firstconfiguration while the first transceiver is coupled to a headend whichuses a PASI for communicating with the advanced fiber node. Theswitching circuit may be configured into the second configuration whilethe first transceiver is coupled to a headend which does not use a PASIfor communicating with the advanced fiber node.

In some instances, the switching circuit 220 may be configured based ona command (e.g., 304) received via the optical link 103. In otherinstances, the advanced fiber node may be operable to autonomouslydetect the type of headend to which it is connected (e.g.,CMTS-equipped, or non-CMTS-equipped), and configure the switchingcircuit based on the detected type of headend.

Other embodiments of the invention may provide a non-transitory computerreadable medium and/or storage medium, and/or a non-transitory machinereadable medium and/or storage medium, having stored thereon, a machinecode and/or a computer program having at least one code sectionexecutable by a machine and/or a computer, thereby causing the machineand/or computer to perform the methods described herein.

Accordingly, the present invention may be realized in hardware,software, or a combination of hardware and software. The presentinvention may be realized in a centralized fashion in at least onecomputing system, or in a distributed fashion where different elementsare spread across several interconnected computing systems. Any kind ofcomputing system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methodsdescribed herein is suited. A typical combination of hardware andsoftware may be a general-purpose computing system with a program orother code that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computingsystem such that it carries out the methods described herein. Anothertypical implementation may comprise an application specific integratedcircuit or chip.

The present invention may also be embedded in a computer programproduct, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation ofthe methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer systemis able to carry out these methods. Computer program in the presentcontext means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of aset of instructions intended to cause a system having an informationprocessing capability to perform a particular function either directlyor after either or both of the following: a) conversion to anotherlanguage, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different materialform.

While the present invention has been described with reference to certainembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. In addition, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material tothe teachings of the present invention without departing from its scope.Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited tothe particular embodiment disclosed, but that the present invention willinclude all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: circuitry for use in ahybrid fiber-coaxial network, the circuitry comprising: a firsttransceiver configured to connect said circuitry to an optical link; asecond transceiver configured to connect said circuitry to an electricallink; a first processing path; a second processing path; and a switchingcircuit, wherein: in a first configuration, said switching circuitcouples said first transceiver to said second transceiver via said firstprocessing path; and in a second configuration, said switching circuitcouples said first transceiver to said second transceiver via saidsecond processing path.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein: said firsttransceiver comprises a passive optical network (PON) transceiver; andsaid second transceiver comprises a data over coaxial service interfacespecification (DOCSIS) physical layer transceiver.
 3. The system ofclaim 2, wherein: said first processing path comprises one or both of:an upstream external PHY interface (UEPI) and a downstream external PHYinterface (DEPI); and said second processing path comprises an opticalnetwork unit (ONU) and a DOCSIS media access control (MAC) circuit. 4.The system of claim 3, wherein: said switching circuit is configuredinto said first configuration while said first transceiver is coupled toa headend which uses one or both of: a UEPI and a DEPI for communicatingwith said circuitry; and said switching circuit is configured into saidsecond configuration while said first transceiver is coupled to aheadend which does not use either a UEPI or a DEPI for communicatingwith said circuitry.
 5. The system of claim 2, wherein: said firstprocessing path comprises a packet shelf to access shelf interface(PASI); and said second processing path comprises a protocol bridgingcircuit and a DOCSIS media access control (MAC) circuit.
 6. The systemof claim 5, wherein: said switching circuit is configured into saidfirst configuration while said first transceiver is coupled to a headendwhich uses a PASI for communicating with said circuitry; and saidswitching circuit is configured into said second configuration whilesaid first transceiver is coupled to a headend which does not use a PASIfor communicating with said circuitry.
 7. The system of claim 1, whereinsaid switching circuit is configured based on a control signal receivedvia said optical link.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein said circuitryis operable to: autonomously detect a type of headend connected to saidoptical link; and configure said switching circuit based on saiddetected type of headend.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein said secondprocessing path is operable to perform functions of a cable modemterminal system (CMTS).
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein saidfunctions of said CMTS include media access planning for allocatingbandwidth on said electrical link.
 11. A method comprising: performingby circuitry of a hybrid fiber-coaxial network: selecting between afirst configuration of a switching circuit of said circuitry and asecond configuration of said switching circuit based on a type ofheadend to which said circuitry is connected via an optical link,wherein: in said first configuration, said switching circuit couples afirst transceiver of said circuitry to a second transceiver of saidcircuitry via a first processing path; in said second configuration,said switching circuit couples said first transceiver of said circuitryto said second transceiver of said circuitry via a second processingpath; said first transceiver is configured to connect said circuitry tosaid optical link; and said second transceiver is configured to connectsaid circuitry to an electrical link.
 12. The method of claim 11,wherein: said first transceiver comprises a passive optical network(PON) transceiver; and said second transceiver comprises a data overcoaxial service interface specification (DOCSIS) physical layertransceiver.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein: said first processingpath comprises one or both of: an upstream external PHY interface (UEPI)and a downstream external PHY interface (DEPI); and said secondprocessing path comprises an optical network unit (ONU) and a DOCSISmedia access control (MAC) circuit.
 14. The method of claim 13,comprising: configuring, by said circuitry, said switching circuit intosaid first configuration while said first transceiver is coupled to aheadend which uses one or both of: a UEPI and a DEPI for communicatingwith said circuitry; and configuring, by said circuitry, said switchingcircuit into said second configuration while said first transceiver iscoupled to a headend which does not use either a UEPI or a DEPI forcommunicating with said circuitry.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein:said first processing path comprises a packet shelf to access shelfinterface (PASI); and said second processing path comprises a protocolbridging circuit and a DOCSIS media access control (MAC) circuit. 16.The method of claim 15, comprising: configuring, by said circuitry, saidswitching circuit into said first configuration while said firsttransceiver is coupled to a headend which uses a PASI for communicatingwith said circuitry; and configuring, by said circuitry, said switchingcircuit into said second configuration while said first transceiver iscoupled to a headend which does not use a PASI for communicating withsaid circuitry.
 17. The method of claim 11, comprising configuring, bysaid circuitry, said switching circuit based on a control signalreceived via said optical link.
 18. The method of claim 11, comprising:detecting, by said circuitry, a type of headend connected to saidoptical link; and configuring, by said circuitry, said switching circuitbased on said detected type of headend.
 19. The method of claim 11,wherein said second processing path is operable to perform functions ofa cable modem terminal system (CMTS).
 20. The method of claim 19,wherein said functions of said CMTS include media access planning forallocating bandwidth on said electrical link.